Lemon and poppy seeds are a classic combination. This hot process recipe is scented with a bright and bubbly combination of Lemon Verbena and Champagne Fragrance Oil. It’s also made with poppy seeds for exfoliation. The end result is a cheerful bar that smells great and leaves skin feeling smooth.

One of the great things about this process is the extra heat speeds up saponification. That means the soap is ready to use after 24 hours and it doesn’t need a 4-6 week cure time like cold process soap. We still like to let our hot process soap cure for 1-2 weeks, just to make sure any excess water has evaporated.

Find the supplies you need for this project below

If you’ve never made hot process soap before, stop here. Check out our FREE four-part SoapQueen.tv series on cold process soapmaking, especially the episode on lye safety. Bramble Berry also carries a wide range of books on the topic, including Pure Soapmaking.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 1 teaspoon of Yellow Mica into 1 tablespoon of lightweight liquid oil. Sunflower, sweet almond, or canola are great options. Stir or use a mini mixer to help get rid of clumps. Set aside. Have activated charcoal nearby, along with a powder duster or fine mesh sifter.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices. That means goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, other distractions, and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

ONE: Slowly and carefully add the 4.7 ounces lye to 10.9 ounces distilled water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Once cooled to about 130° F, add the 1 ounce sodium lactate to the lye water. Sodium lactate is used in hot process at 3% of the oil weight to help produce a smoother bar.

TWO: Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather Quick Mix until it’s completely clear and there’s no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 33 oz. into your Crock-Pot and turn it on.NOTE: The heat setting you use may vary depending on your cooking vessel. We have cooked hot process soap on low and high heat with equally good results. For this recipe, we used the high heat setting for a faster cook time. If you’re making hot process soap in your cooking vessel for the first time, start with the low setting. Next time try the high setting and see which you prefer.

THREE:Slowly add the lye water to the oils. Make sure the mixture does not fill up more than half of the pot. Tap the stick blender on the bottom of the pot to release air bubbles and begin to blend.

FOUR: Mix with a stick blender until thick trace. Put the lid on the Crock-Pot and allow the soap to start cooking.

FIVE: After about 10-15 minutes, check the soap. Starting from the outside, the texture and color of the soap will start to change into a glossy, slightly Vaseline-like texture.NOTE: Don’t be surprised if the soap starts to grow in volume. Do not leave your soap unattended in the first 10 minutes of cook time for this reason. If the soap gets too high in the pot, make sure you’re wearing gloves, take the pot off heat, and stir like crazy.

SIX:Stir the batch to ensure even cooking. Place the lid back on the pot and allow it to cook for about another 10-20 minutes. The time may vary depending on the temperature of your Crock-Pot. Keep an eye on it, checking it every 5-10 minutes or so.

SEVEN: The batch is ready when it’s the texture of glossy mashed potatoes. To be sure, use a pH strip. Place a small amount of the soap into a cup of distilled water and stir. Dip the pH strip into the water – it should be below 10. Be sure not to overcook the soap, you don’t want it too dry for the next steps.

EIGHT: Add 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds directly to the soap and stir.

NINE: Add all of the fragrance blend and use a large spatula to stir in thoroughly.

TEN: Use a large spatula to transfer half of the soap to the mold. Tap firmly on the counter to even the soap out and get rid of bubbles. Place about 1 teaspoon of activated charcoal into the powder duster and quickly apply a thin layer onto the soap. Be careful to not add too much, or the top layer may not stick.

ELEVEN: Add all of the dispersed Yellow Mica to the remaining soap and stir. Plop the soap into the mold and use your gloved hands to press it in. Tap firmly on the counter to help the soap evenly distribute.

TWELVE: Allow the soap to stay in the mold for at least 24 hours. Unmold and cut into bars. This soap is ready to use right away, but will last longer in the shower after at least a 2 week cure time. Enjoy!

COLOR PREP: Disperse 1 teaspoon of Yellow Mica into 1 tablespoon of lightweight liquid oil. Sunflower, sweet almond, or canola are great options. Stir or use a mini mixer to help get rid of clumps. Set aside. Have activated charcoal nearby, along with a powder duster or fine mesh sifter.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices. That means goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, other distractions, and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

Slowly and carefully add the 4.7 ounces lye to 10.9 ounces distilled water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Once cooled to about 130° F, add the 1 ounce sodium lactate to the lye water. Sodium lactate is used in hot process at 3% of the oil weight to help produce a smoother bar.

Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather Quick Mix until it’s completely clear and there’s no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 33 oz. into your Crock-Pot and turn it on. NOTE: The heat setting you use may vary depending on your cooking vessel. We have cooked hot process soap on low and high heat with equally good results. For this recipe, we used the high heat setting for a faster cook time. If you’re making hot process soap in your cooking vessel for the first time, start with the low setting. Next time try the high setting and see which you prefer.

Slowly add the lye water to the oils. Make sure the mixture does not fill up more than half of the pot. Tap the stick blender on the bottom of the pot to release air bubbles and begin to blend.

Mix with a stick blender until thick trace. Put the lid on the Crock-Pot and allow the soap to start cooking.

After about 10-15 minutes, check the soap. Starting from the outside, the texture and color of the soap will start to change into a glossy, slightly Vaseline-like texture. NOTE: Don’t be surprised if the soap starts to grow in volume. Do not leave your soap unattended in the first 10 minutes of cook time for this reason. If the soap gets too high in the pot, make sure you’re wearing gloves, take the pot off heat, and stir like crazy.

Stir the batch to ensure even cooking. Place the lid back on the pot and allow it to cook for about another 10-20 minutes. The time may vary depending on the temperature of your Crock-Pot. Keep an eye on it, checking it every 5-10 minutes or so.

The batch is ready when it’s the texture of glossy mashed potatoes. To be sure, use a pH strip. Place a small amount of the soap into a cup of distilled water and stir. Dip the pH strip into the water – it should be below 10. Be sure not to overcook the soap, you don’t want it too dry for the next steps.

Add 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds directly to the soap and stir.

Add all of the fragrance blend and use a large spatula to stir in thoroughly.

Use a large spatula to transfer half of the soap to the mold. Tap firmly on the counter to even the soap out and get rid of bubbles. Place about 1 teaspoon of activated charcoal into the powder duster and quickly apply a thin layer onto the soap. Be careful to not add too much, or the top layer may not stick.

Add all of the dispersed Yellow Mica to the remaining soap and stir. Plop the soap into the mold and use your gloved hands to press it in. Tap firmly on the counter to help the soap evenly distribute.

Allow the soap to stay in the mold for at least 24 hours. Unmold and cut into bars. This soap is ready to use right away, but will last longer in the shower after at least a 2 week cure time. Enjoy!

Lemon-flavored desserts are always a favorite. Not only are they delicious, but the bright yellow color is hard to beat. While you can’t eat these Lemon Cold Process Soap Cupcakes, they look just as yummy as the real thing! The design was a spin off the Luscious Lemon Cupcakes, which were made with melt and pour soap. Scented with Lemon Verbena Yankee Type Fragrance Oil, these soaps smell fresh and tart.

This recipe does require a few steps, and is considered an advanced soaping project. If you’ve never made soap before, I recommend getting a few batches under your belt before trying this tutorial. In particular, creating soap frosting requires a good understanding of soaping temperatures and lye safety. To watch the process of making cold process soap frosting, check out the Soap Queen TV video below.

I’m celebrating color with the #SoaptheRainbow series. Each week focuses on a different color of the rainbow. We’ve gone through red and orange (and man oh man, the photos were so pretty!). Want to join in the fun? Share photos of projects featuring the color of the week on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #SoaptheRainbow. I’m choosing favorites all week and posting them on the Bramble Berry Instagram page. The featured photos will win a $10 Bramble Berry gift certificate. In addition, a variety of colorants and fragrance oils are 25% off with the code: RAINSOAP. See the sale items here.

This week is all about yellow. Bright and happy, it’s one of my all-time favorite colors. I’ve rounded up my favorite yellow projects below. I can’t wait to see your yellow photos. =)

Like mixing fragrances for soapy projects, I love experimenting with pairing unusual flavors in the kitchen. In particular I like introducing herbs to sweets, such as these Lemon Rosemary Doughnuts with Raspberry Glaze! The rosemary introduces a touch of earthiness, which creates a complex flavor combination. The similar effect is achieved in the Browned Butter & Basil Shortbread that I made for the holiday cookie party in 2013.

Because these donuts are baked and not fried, they are a great way to indulge without feeling guilty. The glaze is easy to make, and can be created with both fresh or frozen raspberries. Don’t you love the vibrant red color it gives the doughnuts? So pretty! I made these doughnuts for the office this week, and they went super fast!

There is something about the color yellow that just screams, “happy!” If you are looking for a project full of cheer, this Lemon Poppy Seed Cold Process Tutorial is the soap for you. Scented with the bright Lemon Verbena Yankee Type and the bubbly Champagne Fragrance Oil, it smells as sunny as it looks.

Poppy seeds give this bar of soap gentle exfoliation, and the contrasting mica vein really makes the layers pop. Tip: when cutting into cold process soap that features a mica vein, don’t cut the soap from the top down. Lay the soap on its side and cut in the direction of the line. This will prevent the mica from dragging through the layers.

With temperatures in the 80’s this week, I have been on the lookout for ways to stay cool while enjoying the sun (Lily has too!). When a dip in the lake is not possible, a cold treat is a great way to stay cool. While ice cream is a delicious way to indulge, sorbet is a lighter, more refreshing option. This week I took advantage of the fresh berries abundant in Whatcom County and made a batch of blackberry sorbet. I have a huge amount of basil in my garden so was delighted to use some of that for this recipe as well.

With a rich red color, tart flavor and just a hint of earthiness from the basil, this recipe was a hit. I used an ice cream maker to create this sorbet. If you do not have an ice cream maker, you can freeze the mixture, then place it into a blender to create a smoother icy texture. You could also pop the blackberry mixture into popsicle molds![Read more…]

When the weather heats up, nothing is better than a refreshing glass of iced tea. And what is more refreshing than ginger, mint and a bit of citrus? This easy way of making flavorful iced tea is my go-to method. All you need to do is throw the ingredients into a pitcher, let the flavors combine and add ice! Simple and delicious.

Disclosure

Unless stated otherwise, all images are original material and are copyrighted. If you'd like to use an image, please be a friend and credit the photo and link back to Soap Queen. Feel free to share, tweet and pin to your hearts content.